Ms. Thomas also implied she might try to take action against those who had threatened her.

"You don't threaten me, and you don't threaten my family. This matter will be handled," she said.

In her speech, Ms. Thomas labeled the Senate a "den of inequity" and said a lax stance by the office of the state's insurance commissioner was more to blame than noneconomic damage awards for soaring medical-malpractice insurance premiums.